"We couldn't keep her in front of us, we lost her a couple of times in the first half," Auriemma said. "But in the second half, whoever wasn't guarding her got to the spots she was headed to provide help."

UConn (18-0) has now won 57 straight games, improving the second-longest winning streak in Division I women's basketball history. The Huskies are 13 shy of tying their own record of 70, set in 2001-03.

This was a sweatbox, both in terms of the heat inside Cameron and intensity with which the game was played.

Unlike most teams that have played UConn, Duke had the size, depth and energy to force the Huskies to think and react.

"This game felt great," Moore said. "They challenged us and pushed us, and when they pressed us I felt we handled it beautifully. We kept our composure."

The Huskies took a 6-0 lead on threes by Hayes and Moore in the first 1:51. After Moore's basket, McCallie called a quick timeout.

UConn never relinquished the lead, but the Huskies never looked like they were totally in control. Thomas made three of her first five shots to bring Duke within 15-11 eight minutes in.

By that time, Auriemma had replaced Moore (2 of 6, two fouls) with Kaili McLaren, who made four of her first five shots for 11 points.

The Huskies ended the half with a 38-28 lead, but it could have been better. With a chance to run out the clock, they allowed Duke to tie up Tiffany Hayes with 10 seconds remaining. Thomas ended the first half and began the second with layups to cut the lead to eight.

Still, UConn got it going in the second half with Greene scoring six of the Huskies' first 14 points to give them a 52-34 lead with 16:04 to play.

Moore made three quick three-pointers midway through the second half to increase the lead to 68-44.